Psalms 10:15

15 1Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; 2call his wickedness to account till you find none.

Psalms 10:15 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 10:15

Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man]
His power and strength, so that he shall not be able to hold the sword, to strike a blow, or do any hurt to the people of God; see ( Ezekiel 30:21-25 ) . This prayer is in some measure already fulfilled in antichrist, the man of sin, or pope of Rome; though his kingdom is not broke to pieces; as it will be when Christ's kingdom shall be more visibly set up, to which reference is had in ( Psalms 10:16 ) ; see ( Daniel 2:44 ) ; yet his strength is weakened, his arm is broken, he has not the power he had, nor can he tyrannise and do the mischief he once did: "but as [for] the evil man" {m}, for so the words should be read, there being an "athnach" under the word "wicked", which ends the proposition there:

seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none;
which designs a thorough search after sin, full punishment of it, and the entire ruin and destruction of the wicked; and the sense is, that God would make a strict inquiry into the wickedness of the man of sin, which he promised himself he would not, ( Psalms 10:13 ) ; and that he would punish him and his followers to the uttermost for it, until there should not be one of the antichristian party found upon earth; with which sense agrees ( Psalms 10:16 ) ; see ( Psalms 104:35 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F13 (erw) "improbum quod attinet, requiras" Gejerus; so Michaelis.

Psalms 10:15 In-Context

13 Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"?
14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.
16 The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.
17 O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

Cross References 2

  • 1. See Psalms 37:17
  • 2. [Psalms 37:36; Isaiah 41:12]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.